The Blues' new coach Mark Hammett only arrived in the country on Friday morning but he was there at in Cardiff to run the rule over his new side. He saw his new team go 24-7 behind at one stage but would have take heart from their late rally.

Both sides scored three tries apiece but the Blues' last two proved to be nothing more than mere consolation. Jake Arnott opened the scoring for Exeter with George Watkins then going over for Cardiff. Tries from Will Chudley and Sam Simmonds gave Exeter the unassailable 17-point lead but Chris Dicomidis and flanker Ellis Jenkins crossed in the last few minutes of the game for Cardiff.

The Blues were without Wales skipper Sam Warburton who sat out the game due to the ongoing dispute between the Welsh Rugby Union and the four regions concerning the new Participation Agreement.

The Blues' Welsh rivals the Ospreys were also in action and they fell to a disappointing 23-6 loss away at Championship side Worcester Warriors. The Warriors went ahead after just 13 seconds with Sam Smith scoring with Nick Schonert and Ben Howard crossing for Worcester in the second-half. Sam Davies slotted two penalties for the Ospreys.

Elsewhere, Saracens ran in six tries against London Scottish winning 40-5. Jack Wilson, Ben Ransom and Jackson Wray crossed in the first-half for Sarries with Wilson adding his second alongside scores from Henry Taylor and Maro Itoke in the second 40.